no title

Crew Cuts Ties With Seven: Analysis

By: Adam Jardy

The Columbus Dispatch - November 28, 2012 11:41 PM

Here’s a closer look at the players the Crew opted not to bring back, in alphabetical order along with 2012 base salary.

Rich Balchan, D, $51,700 – After putting himself in the early running for rookie of the year two seasons ago, several sports hernia surgeries prevented Balchan from making his way back to the first team. Now, after seeing some late-season reserve league action, Balchan said he is looking forward to a chance to show what he can do elsewhere.

“I enjoyed living here in this city for a short stint,” he said. “I was ready to start fresh and try to find a new team. I’m healthy now and I’ve still got a lot to offer to the next club that takes me. Thanks to the Crew for the opportunity and thanks to the fans for showing up every game. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get healthy this year like I wanted to but now I am and I think I’ve got a bright future ahead of me.”

Balchan was healthy enough to start the final regular season game, but head coach Robert Warzycha told me that reserve league games were a far cry from first-team action. That was likely little solace for Balchan, who seemed ready to make his season debut in an otherwise meaningless game.

His loss further thins a back line that currently consists of three players.

Chris Birchall, M, $102,000 – A midseason acquisition when Danny O’Rourke and others could not stay healthy, Birchall showed flashes but fell out of favor during the final weeks and only saw action when injuries forced the hands of the coaching staff. He lined up both as a defensive midfielder and on the right wing, scoring one goal in 18 appearances.

It would have made sense to see the Crew hang onto Cole Grossman if it was not going to bring back Birchall and was in negotiations with O’Rourke. As it stands, Milovan Mirosevic and Kevan George probably the most likely candidates as of this second to hold down the defensive midfielder spots.

Tommy Heinemann, F, $47,250 – The best nickname in the league – “Unfrozen Caveman Forward” – is now moving on. Unfortunately for Heinemann, a knee injury cost him nearly the entire 2012 season and the Crew signed another player with a similar body type and skill set – Aaron Schoenfeld – to a cheaper contract.

The front office likes what it had seen from Schoenfeld before he was selected and subsequently cut by Montreal, and Warzycha likes to have a big body to throw crosses into late in games. Having seen what Heinemann could do during the 2011 season (28 appearances, three goals), the Crew likely decided Schoenfeld offers more upside and opted to make the move.

I have to say, though, that Heinemann absolutely remained dedicated to his teammates and the organization while going through rehab. I had heard he been coaching one of the Crew Academy’s younger age groups and was really getting into it rather than treating it as something beneath someone of his stature.

William Hesmer, GK, $170,000 – Cutting ties with the most prolific goalkeeper in club history is never a decision to be taken likely, but the Crew parting ways with Hesmer does not come as a major surprise. Backup Andy Gruenebaum earned team MVP honors for his play this season in relief of Hesmer, and the veteran has a burgeoning career as a financial planner that could soon take top billing in his life.

Several teams have expressed interest in Hesmer, but he is still weighing all his options and plans to make a final decision about his next step next week.

“I’ve narrowed that down to where I want to be and what I want to be doing if soccer doesn’t work out, but right now I’m exploring the soccer option,” he said. “Ideally I’d like to do that. We’ll see. If nothing comes up I really like, then I have to move on, I guess.”

Julius James, D, $100,000 – When discussing the team’s defensive struggles in 2012, Warzycha said he had three key players in mind for the two central spots: Carlos Mendes, Marshall and James. Together, they combined to miss 50 games as both Mendes and James each missed 20 primarily due to injury.

A tough, physical player, James battled a shoulder injury during the final weeks of the season that resulted in offseason surgery that will sideline him for 4-6 months.

“I'm very grateful to the fans,” he wrote in a message. “I love them! They made my two years all worth it. The front office was also (great). I gave it everything; I gave it my heart.”

His loss likely means Josh Williams will be your everyday center back paired with Marshall with Eric Gehrig as the super sub.

Sebastian Miranda, D, $135,000 – I admit, this one makes the least sense to me. A steady, reliable player who has started all but one game during the last two years?

As far as I could tell, there was no primary backup for Miranda during training this season. He was the guy at that position, and now he’s gone. Left back was an issue all year, and now right back is just as much of a question mark. If there is anyone on this list the Crew tries to resign, Miranda makes the most sense to me.

Tony Tchani, MF, $105,000 – The writing seemed to be on the wall for Tchani before the 2012 season even began when a mysterious illness prevented him from making an overseas trip during the offseason. Warzycha seemed to have little patience for excuses regarding Tchani’s fitness level as a result, and he found his way in and out of the lineup throughout the season.

He finished with two goals and two assists in 22 appearances, but the coaches did not like how he often went against the game plan and tended to be, in their eyes, selfish with the ball. He was also involved in several scuffles during training when sessions were open to the media throughout the season.

Tchani seems to have all the attributes necessary to be a successful player, but he will now be looking for his fourth team in three years.